US20220130634A1 - Emitter, Electron Gun Using Same, and Electronic Device - Google Patents
Emitter, Electron Gun Using Same, and Electronic Device Download PDFInfo
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- US20220130634A1 US20220130634A1 US17/423,149 US202017423149A US2022130634A1 US 20220130634 A1 US20220130634 A1 US 20220130634A1 US 202017423149 A US202017423149 A US 202017423149A US 2022130634 A1 US2022130634 A1 US 2022130634A1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J1/00—Details of electrodes, of magnetic control means, of screens, or of the mounting or spacing thereof, common to two or more basic types of discharge tubes or lamps
- H01J1/02—Main electrodes
- H01J1/30—Cold cathodes, e.g. field-emissive cathode
- H01J1/304—Field-emissive cathodes
- H01J1/3042—Field-emissive cathodes microengineered, e.g. Spindt-type
- H01J1/3044—Point emitters
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/02—Details
- H01J37/04—Arrangements of electrodes and associated parts for generating or controlling the discharge, e.g. electron-optical arrangement, ion-optical arrangement
- H01J37/06—Electron sources; Electron guns
- H01J37/073—Electron guns using field emission, photo emission, or secondary emission electron sources
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J1/00—Details of electrodes, of magnetic control means, of screens, or of the mounting or spacing thereof, common to two or more basic types of discharge tubes or lamps
- H01J1/02—Main electrodes
- H01J1/13—Solid thermionic cathodes
- H01J1/15—Cathodes heated directly by an electric current
- H01J1/16—Cathodes heated directly by an electric current characterised by the shape
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J1/00—Details of electrodes, of magnetic control means, of screens, or of the mounting or spacing thereof, common to two or more basic types of discharge tubes or lamps
- H01J1/88—Mounting, supporting, spacing, or insulating of electrodes or of electrode assemblies
- H01J1/94—Mountings for individual electrodes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/02—Details
- H01J37/04—Arrangements of electrodes and associated parts for generating or controlling the discharge, e.g. electron-optical arrangement, ion-optical arrangement
- H01J37/06—Electron sources; Electron guns
- H01J37/063—Geometrical arrangement of electrodes for beam-forming
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J9/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture, installation, removal, maintenance of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
- H01J9/02—Manufacture of electrodes or electrode systems
- H01J9/12—Manufacture of electrodes or electrode systems of photo-emissive cathodes; of secondary-emission electrodes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J1/00—Details of electrodes, of magnetic control means, of screens, or of the mounting or spacing thereof, common to two or more basic types of discharge tubes or lamps
- H01J1/02—Main electrodes
- H01J1/13—Solid thermionic cathodes
- H01J1/14—Solid thermionic cathodes characterised by the material
- H01J1/148—Solid thermionic cathodes characterised by the material with compounds having metallic conductive properties, e.g. lanthanum boride, as an emissive material
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J2201/00—Electrodes common to discharge tubes
- H01J2201/19—Thermionic cathodes
- H01J2201/196—Emission assisted by other physical processes, e.g. field- or photo emission
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J2201/00—Electrodes common to discharge tubes
- H01J2201/30—Cold cathodes
- H01J2201/304—Field emission cathodes
- H01J2201/30403—Field emission cathodes characterised by the emitter shape
- H01J2201/3043—Fibres
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J2201/00—Electrodes common to discharge tubes
- H01J2201/30—Cold cathodes
- H01J2201/304—Field emission cathodes
- H01J2201/30403—Field emission cathodes characterised by the emitter shape
- H01J2201/30434—Nanotubes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J2237/00—Discharge tubes exposing object to beam, e.g. for analysis treatment, etching, imaging
- H01J2237/06—Sources
- H01J2237/063—Electron sources
- H01J2237/06308—Thermionic sources
- H01J2237/06316—Schottky emission
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J2237/00—Discharge tubes exposing object to beam, e.g. for analysis treatment, etching, imaging
- H01J2237/06—Sources
- H01J2237/063—Electron sources
- H01J2237/06325—Cold-cathode sources
- H01J2237/06341—Field emission
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an emitter, an electron gun using the emitter, and an electronic device.
- a sharpened needle-like electrode is used as an ion source or an electron source in an electron gun or a focused ion beam device in an electron microscope, and various improvements have been made.
- Patent Literature 1 discloses that a high-brightness beam is emitted by bending (see FIG. 5(A) of Patent Literature 1) and tilting (see FIG. 5(B) of Patent Literature 1) a tip of a polycrystalline tungsten wire by 35 degrees, or bending a body part of the polycrystalline tungsten wire (see FIG. 1 of Patent Literature 1).
- Patent Literature 2 an electron source using a tungsten single crystal is known (see, e.g., Patent Literature 2).
- the electron source of Patent Literature 2 is made of a tungsten single crystal having crystal direction of ⁇ 100> coated with ZrO, and discloses that the angle formed by the direction of the axis of the cathode of the tungsten single crystal and the crystal direction of ⁇ 100> is adjusted to 22.5 ⁇ 10°.
- electrons emitted from the vicinity of the boundary between the (110) plane and the (110) plane at the tip of the tungsten single crystal are emitted substantially parallel to the axis of the cathode.
- Patent Literature 3 an electron source using a carbon nanotube is known (see, e.g., Patent Literature 3). According to Patent Literature 3, it is disclosed that a nanotube is arranged within an angular range of 30 degrees to the left and right, centered on the orthogonal direction of the tip edge of the cathode holder. As a result, the electron beam which is field-emitted from the tip of the nanotube can be converged with high efficiency.
- Patent Literatures 1 to 3 in the case of using a tungsten polycrystal, a tungsten single crystal, or a carbon nanotube as an electron source, the sizes thereof are from the nano order to the micro order, and bending or tilting the electron source at a predetermined angle is extremely complicated and requires high accuracy. Therefore, development of an emitter capable of easily and highly efficiently emitting electrons is desired.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an emitter capable of easily and highly efficiently emitting electrons, an electron gun and an electronic device using the same.
- the end of the cathode holder to which the needle-like substance is fixed is bent at an angle ⁇ (wherein a (unit: °) satisfies 5° ⁇ 70° formed with respect to the cathode axis which is the longitudinal direction of the cathode holder, the needle-like substance is a single crystal nanowire or a nanotube, and a relation L/T between a thickness T (unit: ⁇ m) of the end of the cathode holder and a length L (unit: ⁇ m) by which the needle-like substance protrudes from the end of the cathode holder satisfies 0.3 ⁇ L/T ⁇ 2.5.
- the angle ⁇ (unit: °) may satisfy 10° ⁇ 40°, and the relation L/T may satisfy 0.5 ⁇ L/T ⁇ 2.5.
- the angle ⁇ (unit: °) may satisfy 10° ⁇ 15°.
- An angle ⁇ (unit: °) formed by a direction of the cathode axis and a direction in which the end of the needle-like substance emits electrons may satisfy 0° ⁇ 4°.
- the angle ⁇ (unit: °) may satisfy 0° ⁇ 0 ⁇ 3°.
- the needle-like substance may have a diameter in a range of 1 nm or more and 200 nm or less and a length in a range of 500 nm or more and 30 ⁇ m or less.
- the single crystal nanowire may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a rare earth boride, a metal carbide, and a metal oxide.
- the single crystal nanowire is the rare earth boride that is LaB 6 , and a longitudinal direction of the single crystal nanowire matches the ⁇ 100> crystal direction, and an end of the single crystal nanowire through which electrons are to be emitted may have at least a ⁇ 100 ⁇ plane, a ⁇ 110 ⁇ plane, and a ⁇ 111 ⁇ plane.
- the single crystal nanowire is a metal carbide that is HfC, and a longitudinal direction of the single crystal nanowire matches to the ⁇ 100> crystal direction, and an end of the single crystal nanowire through which electrons are to be emitted may have at least a ⁇ 111 ⁇ plane and a ⁇ 110 ⁇ plane.
- the nanotube may be any one selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanotube, a boron nitride nanotube, and a boron carbonitride nanotube.
- a distance d (unit: ⁇ m) between the cathode axis and an end of the needle-like substance that emits electrons may satisfy 5 ⁇ m ⁇ d ⁇ 50 ⁇ m.
- the distance d (unit: pm) may satisfy 6 ⁇ m ⁇ d ⁇ 40 ⁇ m.
- the end of the needle-like substance that emits electrons may have a tapered shape.
- the cathode holder may be made of any metal selected from tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), and rhenium (Re).
- An electron gun according to the present invention includes an electrode, a filament connected to the electrode, and the emitter according to any one of the above attached to the filament. As a result, the above problem is solved.
- the filament may be made of any metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), platinum (Pt), rhenium (Re), and carbon (C).
- the electron gun may be a cold cathode field emission electron gun or a Schottky electron gun.
- the electron gun is the electron gun according to any one of the above. As a result, the above problem is solved.
- the electronic device may be selected from the group consisting of a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, and an energy dispersive electron spectrometer.
- An emitter of the present invention includes a cathode holder and a needle-like substance fixed to an end of the cathode holder, the end of the cathode holder to which the needle-like substance is fixed is bent at an angle ⁇ (wherein ⁇ (unit: °) satisfies 5° ⁇ 70°) formed with respect to a cathode axis which is a longitudinal direction of the cathode holder.
- the needle-like substance is a single crystal nanowire or a nanotube, but known nanowires or nanotubes which are already available can be used there.
- the emitter according to the present invention since the emitter according to the present invention has only to fix the needle-like substance to the end, it is not necessary to adjust the angle of the end of the needle-like substance itself from which electrons are emitted. Furthermore, according to the emitter of the present invention, since the relation L/T between the thickness T (unit: ⁇ m) of the end of the cathode holder and the length L (unit: ⁇ m) by which the needle-like substance protrudes from the end of the cathode holder satisfies 0.3 ⁇ L/T ⁇ 2.5, the direction of an electron emitted from the emitter is substantially parallel to the cathode axis and stable. Therefore, the electron beam can be converged with high efficiency.
- Such an emitter can be employed in an electron gun and an electronic device such as a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, or an energy dispersive electron spectrometer using the electron gun.
- an electronic device such as a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, or an energy dispersive electron spectrometer using the electron gun.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an emitter of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an aspect of manufacturing the emitter of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an electron gun including the emitter of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic view (A) and a photograph (B) of an emitter of Comparative Example 1.
- FIG. 5 is a view showing a photograph of an emitter of Example 2.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic view (A) showing an aspect of observation of an electron pattern of an emitter of Comparative Example 1 and a view showing an observation result (B).
- FIG. 7 is a view showing an observation result of an electron pattern of an emitter of Example 2.
- Embodiment 1 describes an emitter of the present invention and a method for manufacturing the emitter.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an emitter according to Embodiment 1.
- An emitter 100 of the present invention includes a cathode holder 110 and a needle-like substance 120 fixed to the cathode holder 110 .
- An end 130 of the cathode holder 110 to which the needle-like substance 120 is fixed has a simple configuration in which the end 130 is bent at an angle ⁇ (wherein a (unit: °) satisfies 5° ⁇ 70°) formed with respect to a cathode axis A which is a longitudinal direction of the cathode holder 110 (wherein the longitudinal direction is the same as the horizontal direction with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1 ).
- the needle-like substance 120 is a single crystal nanowire or a nanotube, its implementation is easy because it is not necessary to adjust the angle of the end from which electrons are emitted. Furthermore, the inventors of the present application have found that the direction of an electron 140 emitted from the needle-like substance 120 can be made substantially parallel to the cathode axis A and the electron beam can be highly efficiently converged by fixing the needle-like substance 120 to the cathode holder 110 such that the above angle ⁇ satisfies the above range and the relation L/T between a thickness T (unit: ⁇ m) of the end 130 of the cathode holder 110 and a length L (unit: ⁇ m) by which the needle-like substance 120 protrudes from the end 130 satisfies 0.3 ⁇ L/T ⁇ 2.5.
- the cathode holder 110 is not particularly limited as long as it is a conductive material, but is preferably any metal material selected from the group consisting of tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), and rhenium (Re). These materials are excellent in processability.
- the needle-like substance 120 preferably has a diameter in a range of 1 nm or more and 200 nm or less and a length in a range of 500 nm or more and 30 ⁇ m or less. Accordingly, the above relation L/T can be satisfied.
- the “diameter” means the outer diameter of the nanotube.
- the material of the needle-like substance 120 is not particularly limited as long as it is a single crystal nanowire or a nanotube wherein the single crystal nanowire or the nanotube is capable of emitting electrons, but when the needle-like substance 120 is a single crystal nanowire, it is preferably made of any material selected from the group consisting of a rare earth boride, a metal carbide, and a metal oxide.
- a rare earth boride examples include lanthanum hexaboride (LaB 6 ), cerium hexaboride (CeB 6 ), and gadolinium hexaboride (GdB 6 ).
- metal carbide examples include hafnium carbide (HfC), titanium carbide (TiC), tantalum carbide (TaC), and niobium carbide (NbC).
- metal oxide examples include titanium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide.
- LaB 6 is preferable.
- a method for manufacturing LaB 6 is known, and from this point of view, LaB 6 is easily available.
- LaB 6 is preferably processed such that its longitudinal direction matches the ⁇ 100> crystal direction, and an end through which electrons are to be emitted has at least a ⁇ 100 ⁇ plane, a ⁇ 110 ⁇ plane, and a ⁇ 111 ⁇ plane. As a result, the electron 140 is emitted with high efficiency.
- the needle-like substance 120 is a single crystal nanowire made of the metal carbide, it is preferably HfC.
- HfC a method for manufacturing HfC is known, and from this point of view, HfC is easily available.
- HfC is preferably processed such that the longitudinal direction thereof corresponds to the ⁇ 100> crystal direction, and an end through which electrons are to be emitted has at least a ⁇ 110 ⁇ plane and a ⁇ 111 ⁇ plane. As a result, the electron 140 is emitted with high efficiency.
- the symbol ⁇ 100> in the present specification intends all crystal directions equivalent to [100] from the viewpoint of point group symmetry.
- the symbol ⁇ 100 ⁇ in the present specification include surfaces each having equivalent symmetry.
- the needle-like substance 120 is a nanotube
- it is preferably selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanotube, a boron nitride nanotube and a boron carbonitride nanotube.
- the carbon nanotube may be any one of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), a double-walled carbon nanotube (DWNT), and a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT).
- the end that emits electrons may preferably have a tapered shape. As a result, electrons are emitted with higher efficiency.
- the inventors of the present application have found, from various experiments described later, the following: the end 130 of the cathode holder 110 to which the needle-like substance 120 is fixed is bent at an angle ⁇ (wherein a (unit: °) satisfies 5° ⁇ 70°) formed with respect to the cathode axis A which is a longitudinal direction of the cathode holder 110 (wherein the longitudinal direction is the same as the horizontal direction with respect to the paper surface of FIG.
- the direction of the electron 140 emitted from the needle-like substance 120 can be substantially parallel to the cathode axis A, and thus the relation between the angle ⁇ and the value of L/T is important.
- substantially parallel means that an angle ⁇ (unit: °) formed by the cathode axis A and the direction in which the end of the needle-like substance 120 emits electrons satisfies 0° ⁇ 4°.
- the angle ⁇ (unit: °) may further satisfy 0° ⁇ 3°.
- the direction of an electron emitted from the emitter is stable since the angle ⁇ (unit: °) formed can satisfy the above range (specifically 0° ⁇ 4°, preferably 0° ⁇ 3°, and the electron beam can be converged with high efficiency.
- the needle-like substance 120 is located away from the cathode axis A, it is natural that electrons emitted from the end of the needle-like substance 120 are shifted from the cathode axis A.
- the degree of the shift is 100 ⁇ m or less, the shift can be corrected with only a slight adjustment when an electronic device with the emitter 100 of the present invention attached to an electron gun is set up.
- a distance d i.e., the shift from cathode axis A
- a distance d i.e., the shift from cathode axis A
- the cathode axis A preferably satisfies 5 ⁇ d ⁇ 50.
- the angle ⁇ (unit: °) satisfies 10° ⁇ 40°, and the relation L/T satisfies 0.5 ⁇ L/T ⁇ 2.5, so that the distance d (i.e., the shift from the cathode axis A) between the end of the needle-like substance 120 from which electrons are emitted and the cathode axis A can be reduced.
- the distance d (unit: ⁇ m) satisfies 6 ⁇ m ⁇ d ⁇ 40 ⁇ m.
- the angle ⁇ (unit: °) more preferably satisfies 10° ⁇ a ⁇ 15°.
- the distance d ( ⁇ m) can be suppressed to 6 ⁇ m ⁇ d ⁇ 10 ⁇ m.
- the lower limit value of the distance d (unit: ⁇ m) is preferably 5 ( ⁇ m) and more preferably 6 ( ⁇ m), and the upper limit value thereof is preferably 50 ( ⁇ m), more preferably 40 ( ⁇ m), and further more preferably 10 ( ⁇ m) from the viewpoint of, for example, stabilizing the direction of an electron emitted from the emitter and converging the electron beam with high efficiency.
- the emitter 100 of the present invention shows an aspect in which the cathode holder 110 is bent downward with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1 , but may be bent upward, toward the front side, or toward the back side with respect to the paper surface.
- the angle ⁇ , L/T, ⁇ , and d satisfy the above relation.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an aspect of manufacturing the emitter of the present invention.
- the end of the tapered cathode material 210 may be bent downward or upward with respect to the plane thereof in a range of greater than 5° and less than or equal to 70° to form the cathode holder 110 , and then the above needle-like substance 120 may be fixed to the bent (i.e., curved) end 130 .
- the tapered cathode material 210 is fixed with tweezers 220 and 230 , for example, as shown in FIG. 2 , and only the tweezers 230 may be moved downward or upward. Such work may be manually performed while being observed with a microscope or the like or may be set so as to be automatically performed by a machine.
- the needle-like substance 120 is fixed to the end 130 by a conductive adhesive sheet such as a carbon pad.
- the cathode material 210 is the same as the above material of the cathode holder 110 , and thus the description thereof is omitted.
- Embodiment 2 describes an electron gun including the emitter of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an electron gun including an emitter of the present invention.
- An electron gun 300 of the present invention includes at least the emitter 100 described in the Embodiment 1.
- the emitter 100 is attached to a filament 310 .
- the filament 310 is made of any metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), platinum (Pt), rhenium (Re), and carbon (C).
- W tungsten
- Ta tantalum
- Pt platinum
- Re rhenium
- C carbon
- the filament 310 has a hairpin shape (i.e., U-shape), but the present invention is not limited to it, and the shape of the filament 310 may be any shape such as a V-shape.
- an extraction power supply 330 is connected between an electrode 320 and an extraction electrode 340 , and the extraction power supply 330 applies a voltage between the emitter 100 and the extraction electrode 340 .
- an acceleration power supply 350 is connected between the electrode 320 and an acceleration electrode 360 , and the acceleration power supply 350 applies a voltage between the emitter 100 and the acceleration electrode 360 .
- the extraction electrode and the acceleration electrode may be referred to as an anode.
- the electrode 320 may further be connected to a flash power supply in a case where the electron gun 300 is a cold cathode field emission electron gun or may be connected to a heating power supply in a case where the electron gun 300 is a Schottky electron gun.
- the electron gun 300 may be placed under a vacuum of 10 ⁇ 8 Pa to 10 ⁇ 7 Pa. In this case, the end of the emitter 100 from which electrons are to be emitted can be kept clean.
- the extraction power supply 330 applies a voltage between the emitter 100 and the extraction electrode 340 .
- an electric field concentration is generated at an end of the emitter 100 through which electrons are to be emitted (corresponding to the end of the needle-like substance 120 in FIG. 1 ), and electrons are extracted.
- the acceleration power supply 350 applies a voltage between the emitter 100 and the acceleration electrode 360 .
- electrons extracted at the end of the emitter 100 through which electrons are to be emitted are accelerated and emitted toward the sample.
- the surface of the nanowire 100 may be cleaned by appropriately performing flushing with a flash power supply connected to the electrode 320 . These operations are performed under the above vacuum.
- the heating power supply connected to the electrode 320 heats the emitter 100
- the extraction power supply 330 applies a voltage between the emitter 100 and the extraction electrode 340 .
- the acceleration power supply 350 applies a voltage between the emitter 100 and the acceleration electrode 360 .
- electrons extracted at the end of the emitter 100 through which electrons are to be emitted are accelerated and emitted toward the sample. These operations are performed under the above vacuum.
- the electron gun 300 may further include a suppressor (not shown in the drawings) for shielding the thermoelectrons.
- the electron gun 300 of the present invention includes the emitter 100 described in detail in the Embodiment 1, electrons are easily emitted, and the electron beam can be converged with high efficiency.
- Such an electron gun 300 is employed in any electronic device having electron focusing capability.
- such an electronic device may be any one selected from the group consisting of a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, and an energy dispersive electron spectrometer.
- tantalum As for tantalum, a tantalum having a thickness of 2 to 5 ⁇ m at the end for fixing the needle-like substance was used.
- LaB 6 and HfC were, respectively, produced by the CVD methods disclosed in JP 2008-262794 A and WO 2016-140177 Al, for example.
- the obtained nanowire was subjected to composition analysis by an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), and confirmed to be nanowires of LaB 6 and HfC.
- EDS energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer
- both of the nanowires of LaB 6 and HfC are single crystal, the longitudinal direction of LaB 6 corresponds to the ⁇ 100>crystal direction, and its end has the ⁇ 100 ⁇ plane, the ⁇ 110 ⁇ plane, and the ⁇ 111 ⁇ plane as well as that the longitudinal direction of HfC corresponds to the ⁇ 100> crystal direction, and its end has the ⁇ 111 ⁇ plane and the ⁇ 110 ⁇ plane.
- the LaB 6 and HfC nanowires had a diameter of 10 nm to 200 nm (i.e., 10 nm or more and 200 nm or less) and a length of 1 ⁇ m to 30 ⁇ m (i.e., 1 ⁇ m or more and 30 ⁇ m or less).
- LaB 6 nanowires and HfC nanowires having a diameter of about 100 nm and a length of 115 ⁇ m were used.
- a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT, manufactured by Cheap Tube) was employed as the carbon nanotube.
- the SWCNT had a diameter of 5 nm and a diameter of 5 ⁇ m.
- FIG. 4 is a view showing a schematic view (A) and a photograph (B) of the emitter of Comparative Example 1.
- FIG. 5 is a view showing a photograph of an emitter of Example 2.
- Example 4 Comparative Example 5, Example 6, Comparative Example 7, Example 8, Comparative Example 9, and Examples 10 to 13 of the above table showed the similar aspects as well (see Table 1).
- an electron gun showed in FIG. 3 was constructed, an extraction voltage was set to 350 V, then an extraction voltage polarity was inverted, an acceleration voltage was set to 350 V, and an electron pattern was observed.
- a distance (corresponding to d in FIG. 1 ) between an end of the needle-like substance from which electrons are emitted and the cathode axis and an angle (corresponding to 0 in FIG. 1 ) formed by the cathode axis and a direction in which the end of the needle-like substance emits electrons were measured.
- the results are shown in FIG. 6 , FIG. 7 , and Table 2.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic view (A) showing an aspect of observation of an electron pattern of an emitter of Comparative Example 1 and a view showing an observation result (B).
- FIG. 7 is a view showing an observation result of an electron pattern of an emitter of Example 2.
- FIGS. 6(B) and 7 an area brightly showed in gray scale indicates a position irradiated with the electron beam.
- the electron pattern of the emitter of Comparative Example 1 was largely deviated from the center of the screen, and 0 was calculated to be 6°.
- the electron pattern of the emitter of Example 2 appeared at the center of the screen, and 0 was 0°.
- the distance d i.e., shift from cathode axis
- the corrected distance d (um) is shown in Table 2.
- Table 2 shows that when the angle ⁇ (unit: °) satisfies 5° ⁇ 70° and the relation L/T satisfies 0.3 ⁇ L/T ⁇ 2.5, the electron beam emitted from the emitter is substantially parallel to the cathode axis. Furthermore, it was shown that when the angle ⁇ (unit: °) satisfies 10° ⁇ 40° and the relation L/T satisfies 0.5 ⁇ L/T ⁇ 2.5, the electron beam emitted from the emitter has a small shift from the cathode axis and is substantially parallel to the cathode axis.
- the electron beam becomes parallel to the cathode axis, and the shift (d: ⁇ m) from the cathode axis can also be suppressed to 6 ⁇ m ⁇ d ⁇ 10 ⁇ m.
- the emitter of the present invention can efficiently emit focused electrons
- the emitter of the present invention is employed in any device having electron focusing capability, such as a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, and an energy dispersive electron spectrometer.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an emitter, an electron gun using the emitter, and an electronic device.
- In order to obtain a high-resolution and high-brightness observation image, a sharpened needle-like electrode is used as an ion source or an electron source in an electron gun or a focused ion beam device in an electron microscope, and various improvements have been made.
- Alight source (i.e., ion source) of a focused ion beam device using an inexpensive polycrystalline tungsten emitter is known (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1).
Patent Literature 1 discloses that a high-brightness beam is emitted by bending (seeFIG. 5(A) of Patent Literature 1) and tilting (seeFIG. 5(B) of Patent Literature 1) a tip of a polycrystalline tungsten wire by 35 degrees, or bending a body part of the polycrystalline tungsten wire (seeFIG. 1 of Patent Literature 1). - In addition, an electron source using a tungsten single crystal is known (see, e.g., Patent Literature 2). The electron source of
Patent Literature 2 is made of a tungsten single crystal having crystal direction of <100> coated with ZrO, and discloses that the angle formed by the direction of the axis of the cathode of the tungsten single crystal and the crystal direction of <100> is adjusted to 22.5±10°. As a result, electrons emitted from the vicinity of the boundary between the (110) plane and the (110) plane at the tip of the tungsten single crystal are emitted substantially parallel to the axis of the cathode. - In addition, an electron source using a carbon nanotube is known (see, e.g., Patent Literature 3). According to Patent Literature 3, it is disclosed that a nanotube is arranged within an angular range of 30 degrees to the left and right, centered on the orthogonal direction of the tip edge of the cathode holder. As a result, the electron beam which is field-emitted from the tip of the nanotube can be converged with high efficiency.
- However, according to
Patent Literatures 1 to 3, in the case of using a tungsten polycrystal, a tungsten single crystal, or a carbon nanotube as an electron source, the sizes thereof are from the nano order to the micro order, and bending or tilting the electron source at a predetermined angle is extremely complicated and requires high accuracy. Therefore, development of an emitter capable of easily and highly efficiently emitting electrons is desired. - PATENT LITERATURE 1: JPH 04-17247 A
- PATENT LITERATURE 2: JP 2011-238459 A
- PATENT LITERATURE 3: JP 2005-243389 A
- An object of the present invention is to provide an emitter capable of easily and highly efficiently emitting electrons, an electron gun and an electronic device using the same.
- In an emitter according to the present invention wherein the emitter includes a cathode holder and a needle-like substance fixed to an end of the cathode holder, the end of the cathode holder to which the needle-like substance is fixed is bent at an angle α (wherein a (unit: °) satisfies 5°<α≤70° formed with respect to the cathode axis which is the longitudinal direction of the cathode holder, the needle-like substance is a single crystal nanowire or a nanotube, and a relation L/T between a thickness T (unit: μm) of the end of the cathode holder and a length L (unit: μm) by which the needle-like substance protrudes from the end of the cathode holder satisfies 0.3<L/T≤2.5. As a result, the above problem is solved.
- The angle α (unit: °) may satisfy 10°<α≤40°, and the relation L/T may satisfy 0.5≤L/T≤2.5.
- The angle α(unit: °) may satisfy 10°≤α≤15°.
- An angle θ (unit: °) formed by a direction of the cathode axis and a direction in which the end of the needle-like substance emits electrons may satisfy 0°θ<4°.
- The angle θ (unit: °) may satisfy 0°≤0≤3°.
- The needle-like substance may have a diameter in a range of 1 nm or more and 200 nm or less and a length in a range of 500 nm or more and 30 μm or less.
- The single crystal nanowire may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a rare earth boride, a metal carbide, and a metal oxide.
- The single crystal nanowire is the rare earth boride that is LaB6, and a longitudinal direction of the single crystal nanowire matches the <100> crystal direction, and an end of the single crystal nanowire through which electrons are to be emitted may have at least a {100} plane, a {110} plane, and a {111} plane.
- The single crystal nanowire is a metal carbide that is HfC, and a longitudinal direction of the single crystal nanowire matches to the <100> crystal direction, and an end of the single crystal nanowire through which electrons are to be emitted may have at least a {111} plane and a {110} plane.
- The nanotube may be any one selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanotube, a boron nitride nanotube, and a boron carbonitride nanotube.
- A distance d (unit: μm) between the cathode axis and an end of the needle-like substance that emits electrons may satisfy 5 μm≤d≤50 μm.
- The distance d (unit: pm) may satisfy 6 μm≤d≤40 μm.
- The end of the needle-like substance that emits electrons may have a tapered shape.
- The cathode holder may be made of any metal selected from tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), and rhenium (Re).
- An electron gun according to the present invention includes an electrode, a filament connected to the electrode, and the emitter according to any one of the above attached to the filament. As a result, the above problem is solved.
- The filament may be made of any metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), platinum (Pt), rhenium (Re), and carbon (C).
- The electron gun may be a cold cathode field emission electron gun or a Schottky electron gun.
- In an electronic device including an electron gun according to the present invention, the electron gun is the electron gun according to any one of the above. As a result, the above problem is solved.
- The electronic device may be selected from the group consisting of a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, and an energy dispersive electron spectrometer.
- An emitter of the present invention includes a cathode holder and a needle-like substance fixed to an end of the cathode holder, the end of the cathode holder to which the needle-like substance is fixed is bent at an angle α (wherein α (unit: °) satisfies 5°<α<70°) formed with respect to a cathode axis which is a longitudinal direction of the cathode holder. Also, the needle-like substance is a single crystal nanowire or a nanotube, but known nanowires or nanotubes which are already available can be used there. As described above, since the emitter according to the present invention has only to fix the needle-like substance to the end, it is not necessary to adjust the angle of the end of the needle-like substance itself from which electrons are emitted. Furthermore, according to the emitter of the present invention, since the relation L/T between the thickness T (unit: μm) of the end of the cathode holder and the length L (unit: μm) by which the needle-like substance protrudes from the end of the cathode holder satisfies 0.3≤L/T≤2.5, the direction of an electron emitted from the emitter is substantially parallel to the cathode axis and stable. Therefore, the electron beam can be converged with high efficiency.
- Such an emitter can be employed in an electron gun and an electronic device such as a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, or an energy dispersive electron spectrometer using the electron gun.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an emitter of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an aspect of manufacturing the emitter of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an electron gun including the emitter of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic view (A) and a photograph (B) of an emitter of Comparative Example 1. -
FIG. 5 is a view showing a photograph of an emitter of Example 2. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic view (A) showing an aspect of observation of an electron pattern of an emitter of Comparative Example 1 and a view showing an observation result (B). -
FIG. 7 is a view showing an observation result of an electron pattern of an emitter of Example 2. - Hereinafter, Embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. It is also to be noted that a similar element is denoted by a similar reference numeral, and description thereof is omitted.
- (Embodiment 1)
-
Embodiment 1 describes an emitter of the present invention and a method for manufacturing the emitter. -
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an emitter according toEmbodiment 1. - An
emitter 100 of the present invention includes acathode holder 110 and a needle-like substance 120 fixed to thecathode holder 110. Anend 130 of thecathode holder 110 to which the needle-like substance 120 is fixed has a simple configuration in which theend 130 is bent at an angle α (wherein a (unit: °) satisfies 5°<α≤70°) formed with respect to a cathode axis A which is a longitudinal direction of the cathode holder 110 (wherein the longitudinal direction is the same as the horizontal direction with respect to the paper surface ofFIG. 1 ). Although the needle-like substance 120 is a single crystal nanowire or a nanotube, its implementation is easy because it is not necessary to adjust the angle of the end from which electrons are emitted. Furthermore, the inventors of the present application have found that the direction of anelectron 140 emitted from the needle-like substance 120 can be made substantially parallel to the cathode axis A and the electron beam can be highly efficiently converged by fixing the needle-like substance 120 to thecathode holder 110 such that the above angle α satisfies the above range and the relation L/T between a thickness T (unit: μm) of theend 130 of thecathode holder 110 and a length L (unit: μm) by which the needle-like substance 120 protrudes from theend 130 satisfies 0.3≤L/T≤2.5. - The
cathode holder 110 is not particularly limited as long as it is a conductive material, but is preferably any metal material selected from the group consisting of tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), and rhenium (Re). These materials are excellent in processability. - The needle-
like substance 120 preferably has a diameter in a range of 1 nm or more and 200 nm or less and a length in a range of 500 nm or more and 30 μm or less. Accordingly, the above relation L/T can be satisfied. In the present specification, when the needle-like substance 120 is a nanotube, the “diameter” means the outer diameter of the nanotube. - The material of the needle-
like substance 120 is not particularly limited as long as it is a single crystal nanowire or a nanotube wherein the single crystal nanowire or the nanotube is capable of emitting electrons, but when the needle-like substance 120 is a single crystal nanowire, it is preferably made of any material selected from the group consisting of a rare earth boride, a metal carbide, and a metal oxide. Examples of the rare earth boride include lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6), cerium hexaboride (CeB6), and gadolinium hexaboride (GdB6). Examples of the metal carbide include hafnium carbide (HfC), titanium carbide (TiC), tantalum carbide (TaC), and niobium carbide (NbC). Examples of the metal oxide include titanium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide. - When the needle-
like substance 120 is a single crystal nanowire made of a rare earth boride, LaB6 is preferable. For example, as disclosed in JP 2008-262794 A, a method for manufacturing LaB6 is known, and from this point of view, LaB6 is easily available. LaB6 is preferably processed such that its longitudinal direction matches the <100> crystal direction, and an end through which electrons are to be emitted has at least a {100} plane, a {110} plane, and a {111} plane. As a result, theelectron 140 is emitted with high efficiency. - When the needle-
like substance 120 is a single crystal nanowire made of the metal carbide, it is preferably HfC. For example, as disclosed in WO 2016-140177 A1, a method for manufacturing HfC is known, and from this point of view, HfC is easily available. HfC is preferably processed such that the longitudinal direction thereof corresponds to the <100> crystal direction, and an end through which electrons are to be emitted has at least a {110} plane and a {111} plane. As a result, theelectron 140 is emitted with high efficiency. - It is to be noted that that the symbol <100> in the present specification intends all crystal directions equivalent to [100] from the viewpoint of point group symmetry. Similarly, It is to be noted that the symbol {100} in the present specification include surfaces each having equivalent symmetry.
- When the needle-
like substance 120 is a nanotube, it is preferably selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanotube, a boron nitride nanotube and a boron carbonitride nanotube. For example, the carbon nanotube may be any one of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), a double-walled carbon nanotube (DWNT), and a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT). - As for the needle-
like substance 120, the end that emits electrons may preferably have a tapered shape. As a result, electrons are emitted with higher efficiency. - As described above, the inventors of the present application have found, from various experiments described later, the following: the end 130 of the cathode holder 110 to which the needle-like substance 120 is fixed is bent at an angle α (wherein a (unit: °) satisfies 5°<α≤70°) formed with respect to the cathode axis A which is a longitudinal direction of the cathode holder 110 (wherein the longitudinal direction is the same as the horizontal direction with respect to the paper surface of
FIG. 1 ), and the relation L/T between a thickness T (unit: μm) of the end 130 of the cathode holder 110 and a length L (unit: μm) by which the needle-like substance 120 protrudes from the end 130 satisfies 0.3≤L/T≤2.5, so that the direction of an electron emitted from the needle-like substance 120 can be substantially parallel to the cathode axis A. Specifically, as the angle α is smaller and the value of L/T is larger or as the angle α is larger and the value of L/T is smaller, the direction of the electron 140 emitted from the needle-like substance 120 can be substantially parallel to the cathode axis A, and thus the relation between the angle α and the value of L/T is important. - Here, in the present specification, “substantially parallel” means that an angle θ (unit: °) formed by the cathode axis A and the direction in which the end of the needle-
like substance 120 emits electrons satisfies 0°≤θ≤4°. Depending on the adjustment of the angle α and the value of L/T, the angle θ (unit: °) may further satisfy 0°≤θ≤3°. - According to the emitter of the present invention, the direction of an electron emitted from the emitter is stable since the angle θ (unit: °) formed can satisfy the above range (specifically 0°≤θ<4°, preferably 0°≤θ≤3°, and the electron beam can be converged with high efficiency.
- According to the
emitter 100 of the present invention, since the needle-like substance 120 is located away from the cathode axis A, it is natural that electrons emitted from the end of the needle-like substance 120 are shifted from the cathode axis A. However, since the degree of the shift is 100 μm or less, the shift can be corrected with only a slight adjustment when an electronic device with theemitter 100 of the present invention attached to an electron gun is set up. A distance d (i.e., the shift from cathode axis A) between an end of the needle-like substance 120 from which electrons are emitted and the cathode axis A preferably satisfies 5≤d≤50. - However, it is preferable that the angle α (unit: °) satisfies 10°≤α≤40°, and the relation L/T satisfies 0.5≤L/T≤2.5, so that the distance d (i.e., the shift from the cathode axis A) between the end of the needle-
like substance 120 from which electrons are emitted and the cathode axis A can be reduced. Specifically, the distance d (unit: μm) satisfies 6 μm≤d≤40 μm. - The angle α (unit: °) more preferably satisfies 10° <a <15°. As a result, the distance d (μm) can be suppressed to 6 μm≤d≤10 μm.
- In the
emitter 100 of the present invention, as described above, the lower limit value of the distance d (unit: μm) is preferably 5 (μm) and more preferably 6 (μm), and the upper limit value thereof is preferably 50 (μm), more preferably 40 (μm), and further more preferably 10 (μm) from the viewpoint of, for example, stabilizing the direction of an electron emitted from the emitter and converging the electron beam with high efficiency. - The
emitter 100 of the present invention shows an aspect in which thecathode holder 110 is bent downward with respect to the paper surface ofFIG. 1 , but may be bent upward, toward the front side, or toward the back side with respect to the paper surface. In any case, the angle α, L/T, θ, and d satisfy the above relation. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an aspect of manufacturing the emitter of the present invention. - In the
emitter 100 of the present invention, the end of the taperedcathode material 210 may be bent downward or upward with respect to the plane thereof in a range of greater than 5° and less than or equal to 70° to form thecathode holder 110, and then the above needle-like substance 120 may be fixed to the bent (i.e., curved)end 130. The taperedcathode material 210 is fixed withtweezers FIG. 2 , and only thetweezers 230 may be moved downward or upward. Such work may be manually performed while being observed with a microscope or the like or may be set so as to be automatically performed by a machine. The needle-like substance 120 is fixed to theend 130 by a conductive adhesive sheet such as a carbon pad. Thecathode material 210 is the same as the above material of thecathode holder 110, and thus the description thereof is omitted. - (Embodiment 2)
-
Embodiment 2 describes an electron gun including the emitter of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an electron gun including an emitter of the present invention. - An
electron gun 300 of the present invention includes at least theemitter 100 described in theEmbodiment 1. - The
emitter 100 is attached to afilament 310. This is preferable because thenanowire 100 is easy to handle. Thefilament 310 is made of any metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), platinum (Pt), rhenium (Re), and carbon (C). InFIG. 3 , thefilament 310 has a hairpin shape (i.e., U-shape), but the present invention is not limited to it, and the shape of thefilament 310 may be any shape such as a V-shape. - In the
electron gun 300, anextraction power supply 330 is connected between anelectrode 320 and anextraction electrode 340, and theextraction power supply 330 applies a voltage between theemitter 100 and theextraction electrode 340. Furthermore, in theelectron gun 300, anacceleration power supply 350 is connected between theelectrode 320 and anacceleration electrode 360, and theacceleration power supply 350 applies a voltage between theemitter 100 and theacceleration electrode 360. The extraction electrode and the acceleration electrode may be referred to as an anode. - The
electrode 320 may further be connected to a flash power supply in a case where theelectron gun 300 is a cold cathode field emission electron gun or may be connected to a heating power supply in a case where theelectron gun 300 is a Schottky electron gun. - The
electron gun 300 may be placed under a vacuum of 10−8 Pa to 10−7 Pa. In this case, the end of theemitter 100 from which electrons are to be emitted can be kept clean. - An operation when the
electron gun 300 of the present invention is a cold cathode field emission electron gun is briefly described. - The
extraction power supply 330 applies a voltage between theemitter 100 and theextraction electrode 340. As a result, an electric field concentration is generated at an end of theemitter 100 through which electrons are to be emitted (corresponding to the end of the needle-like substance 120 inFIG. 1 ), and electrons are extracted. Furthermore, theacceleration power supply 350 applies a voltage between theemitter 100 and theacceleration electrode 360. As a result, electrons extracted at the end of theemitter 100 through which electrons are to be emitted are accelerated and emitted toward the sample. The surface of thenanowire 100 may be cleaned by appropriately performing flushing with a flash power supply connected to theelectrode 320. These operations are performed under the above vacuum. - An operation when the
electron gun 300 of the present invention is a Schottky electron gun is briefly described. - The heating power supply connected to the
electrode 320 heats theemitter 100, and theextraction power supply 330 applies a voltage between theemitter 100 and theextraction electrode 340. As a result, Schottky emission occurs at the end of theemitter 100 through which electrons are to be emitted, and electrons are extracted. Furthermore, theacceleration power supply 350 applies a voltage between theemitter 100 and theacceleration electrode 360. As a result, electrons extracted at the end of theemitter 100 through which electrons are to be emitted are accelerated and emitted toward the sample. These operations are performed under the above vacuum. Since thermoelectrons can be emitted from theemitter 100 by the heating power supply, theelectron gun 300 may further include a suppressor (not shown in the drawings) for shielding the thermoelectrons. - Since the
electron gun 300 of the present invention includes theemitter 100 described in detail in theEmbodiment 1, electrons are easily emitted, and the electron beam can be converged with high efficiency. Such anelectron gun 300 is employed in any electronic device having electron focusing capability. For example, such an electronic device may be any one selected from the group consisting of a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, and an energy dispersive electron spectrometer. - Next, the present invention is described in detail by using specific Examples, but it is to be noted that that the present invention is not limited to these Examples.
- In Comparative Examples 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 and Examples 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 to 13, using tapered tantalum as a cathode material and lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6), hafnium carbide (HfC), and a carbon nanotube as needle-like substances, emitters with varying L/T (see
FIG. 1 ) and angle α (seeFIG. 1 ) were manufactured. - As for tantalum, a tantalum having a thickness of 2 to 5 μm at the end for fixing the needle-like substance was used. LaB6 and HfC were, respectively, produced by the CVD methods disclosed in JP 2008-262794 A and WO 2016-140177 Al, for example.
- The obtained nanowire was subjected to composition analysis by an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), and confirmed to be nanowires of LaB6 and HfC. In addition, from the HTREM image and the figures of the selected area electron diffraction pattern which were obtained by transmission electron microscope, it was confirmed that both of the nanowires of LaB6 and HfC are single crystal, the longitudinal direction of LaB6 corresponds to the <100>crystal direction, and its end has the {100} plane, the {110} plane, and the {111} plane as well as that the longitudinal direction of HfC corresponds to the <100> crystal direction, and its end has the {111} plane and the {110} plane. The LaB6 and HfC nanowires had a diameter of 10 nm to 200 nm (i.e., 10 nm or more and 200 nm or less) and a length of 1 μm to 30 μm (i.e., 1 μm or more and 30 μm or less). Hereinafter, among these, LaB6 nanowires and HfC nanowires having a diameter of about 100 nm and a length of 115 μm were used.
- Meanwhile, a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT, manufactured by Cheap Tube) was employed as the carbon nanotube. The SWCNT had a diameter of 5 nm and a diameter of 5 μm.
- Various emitters were manufactured using tweezers in the manner shown in
FIG. 2 so as to satisfy the L/T and angle α (unit: °) shown in Table 1. The needle-like substance was fixed to the cathode holder with a carbon pad. -
TABLE 1 List of emitter configurations of Comparative Examples 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 and Examples 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 to 13, shown in Examples/Comparative Examples Examples/Comparative Cathode Needle-like L T α Examples material substance (unit: μm) (unit: μm) L/T (unit: °) Comparative Example 1 Tantalum LaB6 3 2 1.5 0 Example 2 Tantalum LaB6 3 2 1.5 10 Comparative Example 3 Tantalum LaB6 4 2 2 0 Example 4 Tantalum LaB6 4 2 2 38 Comparative Example 5 Tantalum LaB 6 2 4 0.5 5 Example 6 Tantalum LaB 6 2 4 0.5 12 Comparative Example 7 Tantalum LaB 6 1 3 0.3 0 Example 8 Tantalum LaB 6 1 3 0.3 65 Comparative Example 9 Tantalum LaB 6 1 5 0.2 10 Example 10 Tantalum LaB6 5 2 2.5 10 Example 11 Tantalum LaB 6 1 3 0.3 70 Example 12 Tantalum CNT 3 2 1.5 10 Example 13 Tantalum HfC 3 2 1.5 10 -
FIG. 4 is a view showing a schematic view (A) and a photograph (B) of the emitter of Comparative Example 1. -
FIG. 5 is a view showing a photograph of an emitter of Example 2. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , when a was 0°, the cathode holder was not bent, and the longitudinal direction of the needle-like substance matched the cathode axis of the cathode holder. The emitters of Comparative Example 3 and Comparative Example 7 showed the similar aspects as well. - On the other hand, as shown in
FIG. 5 , when a was 10°, the cathode holder was bent, and the longitudinal direction of the needle-like substance did not match the cathode axis of the cathode holder. Example 4, Comparative Example 5, Example 6, Comparative Example 7, Example 8, Comparative Example 9, and Examples 10 to 13 of the above table showed the similar aspects as well (see Table 1). - Using the obtained emitter, an electron gun showed in
FIG. 3 was constructed, an extraction voltage was set to 350 V, then an extraction voltage polarity was inverted, an acceleration voltage was set to 350 V, and an electron pattern was observed. At this time, a distance (corresponding to d inFIG. 1 ) between an end of the needle-like substance from which electrons are emitted and the cathode axis and an angle (corresponding to 0 inFIG. 1 ) formed by the cathode axis and a direction in which the end of the needle-like substance emits electrons were measured. The results are shown inFIG. 6 ,FIG. 7 , and Table 2. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic view (A) showing an aspect of observation of an electron pattern of an emitter of Comparative Example 1 and a view showing an observation result (B). -
FIG. 7 is a view showing an observation result of an electron pattern of an emitter of Example 2. - In
FIGS. 6(B) and 7, an area brightly showed in gray scale indicates a position irradiated with the electron beam. According toFIG. 6(B) , the electron pattern of the emitter of Comparative Example 1 was largely deviated from the center of the screen, and 0 was calculated to be 6°. On the other hand, according toFIG. 7 , the electron pattern of the emitter of Example 2 appeared at the center of the screen, and 0 was 0°. Although not shown in the drawings, it was confirmed that all of the electron patterns of the emitters of Examples 4, 6, 8, and 10 to 13 appeared at the center of the screen. In the above Examples/Comparative Examples in which the end of the cathode holder is bent, the distance d (i.e., shift from cathode axis) between the end of the needle-like substance from which electrons are emitted and the cathode axis is corrected at the time of measurement. The corrected distance d (um) is shown in Table 2. -
TABLE 2 List of emitter configurations of Comparative Examples 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 and Examples 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 to 13, shown in Examples/Comparative Examples Examples/Comparative Cathode Needle-like α d θ Examples material substance L/T (unit: °) (unit: μm) (unit: °) Comparative Example 1 Tantalum LaB6 1.5 0 0 6 Example 2 Tantalum LaB6 1.5 10 6 0 Comparative Example 3 Tantalum LaB 6 2 0 0 21 Example 4 Tantalum LaB 6 2 38 40 3 Comparative Example 5 Tantalum LaB6 0.5 5 1 4 Example 6 Tantalum LaB6 0.5 12 7 0 Comparative Example 7 Tantalum LaB6 0.3 0 0 20 Example 8 Tantalum LaB6 0.3 65 36 2 Comparative Example 9 Tantalum LaB6 0.2 10 4 22 Example 10 Tantalum LaB6 2.5 10 6 2 Example 11 Tantalum LaB6 0.3 70 20 1 Example 12 Tantalum CNT 1.5 10 6 0 Example 13 Tantalum HfC 1.5 10 6 0 - Table 2 shows that when the angle α (unit: °) satisfies 5°<α≤70° and the relation L/T satisfies 0.3≤L/T≤2.5, the electron beam emitted from the emitter is substantially parallel to the cathode axis. Furthermore, it was shown that when the angle α (unit: °) satisfies 10°≤α≤40° and the relation L/T satisfies 0.5 ≤L/T≤2.5, the electron beam emitted from the emitter has a small shift from the cathode axis and is substantially parallel to the cathode axis. Furthermore, when the angle α (unit: °) satisfies 10°≤α≤15°, the electron beam becomes parallel to the cathode axis, and the shift (d: μm) from the cathode axis can also be suppressed to 6 μm≤d≤10 μm.
- Since the emitter of the present invention can efficiently emit focused electrons, the emitter of the present invention is employed in any device having electron focusing capability, such as a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, a scanning transmission electron microscope, an Auger electron spectrometer, an electron energy loss spectrometer, and an energy dispersive electron spectrometer.
-
- 100 Emitter
- 110 Cathode holder
- 120 Needle-like substance
- 130 End of
cathode holder 110 to which needle-like substance 120 is fixed - 140 Electron
- 210 Tapered cathode material
- 220, 230 Tweezers
- 300 Electron gun
- 310 Filament
- 320 Electrode
- 330 Extraction power supply
- 340 Extraction electrode
- 350 Acceleration power supply
- 360 Acceleration electrode
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2020
- 2020-01-06 US US17/423,149 patent/US11721516B2/en active Active
- 2020-01-06 JP JP2020569462A patent/JP7145533B2/en active Active
- 2020-01-06 WO PCT/JP2020/000027 patent/WO2020158297A1/en unknown
- 2020-01-06 EP EP20748838.8A patent/EP3920206B1/en active Active
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US11721516B2 (en) | 2023-08-08 |
EP3920206A1 (en) | 2021-12-08 |
JPWO2020158297A1 (en) | 2021-11-18 |
WO2020158297A1 (en) | 2020-08-06 |
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JP7145533B2 (en) | 2022-10-03 |
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